What they are usually indicating is that their agenda would not stand up to investigation in the light of the lessons of history.

Mr. Obama’s agenda, laid out at the Democratic convention, of abortion on demand and redefining marriage to include homosexuals, is certainly not informed by history.

It remains Mr. Obama’s hope that such “thinking outside the box” will prevail.

His hope was justified by his re-election. The ill effects of resolutely ignoring the lessons of history can be seen in the cascading scandals of incompetence and corruption that are currently engulfing his administration.